Ideal Time of Day to Dose Carbon

RobZilla04 · 08/16/2017, 05:42 PM

Got my doser going last week (finally) and just mixed up the Carbon solution (500 ml 5% Vinegar, 375 ml 80 proof vodka, 125 ml RODI).

My question, is there and ideal time of day to dose it?

Blue channel comes on at 0830, White at 1530. Should the solution be dosed in the a.m. or wait until the white channel kicks on later in the day.

I know some responses are going to be "spread out across the day".

Im starting small again (5ml) so all at once is my intention.

cincyjim · 08/17/2017, 05:03 AM

I never gave light schedule consideration when I dose my NoPox as I wasn't aware it should have been. So I'm anxious to see what others have to say about it. Currently, I dose mine after midnight. I dose at night because my continuous water changing starts at 12noon through 8pm and I figured this will give the dosed elements a chance to make a difference.

ReefsandGeeks · 08/17/2017, 07:39 AM

Of course, spread out throughout the light cycle to counter the pH dropping effects of the carbon would be ideal, but with low dosing amounts, it doesn't matter. Currently, I dose all at once with premeasured sample bottles because I dont' have a doser in my budget. With a baby on the way, it's looking like i'll be waiting a while. I dose when I get home from work in the evening because that's when is convenient for me. If I had a doser, I'd prefer to dose maybe an hour after the lights start up, as pH begins to rise for the day. If you have a pH probe and apex, you can monitor your pH trend and dose your carbon to try to keep the pH as stable as possible. I don't so keeping it simple and just dosing when the lights are on is what I do. Hasn't caused any problems for me, so I don't think it's critical either way.

bertoni · 08/17/2017, 01:01 PM

I don't think that the time of dosing matters very much for most tanks. If my tank were running below 7.8 at night, I'd probably dose during the day. I would spread the dose across the day, on average.

hkgar · 08/17/2017, 02:38 PM

My tank drops to 7.7 at night. I dose a 50/50 mix from 10 AM to 8 PM (light period). I dose a little more than you plan at 32ml/day.

RobZilla04 · 08/18/2017, 11:28 AM

Thanks for the replies. As my dose volume increases Ill spread it out across the lighting period.

tmz · 08/18/2017, 11:45 AM

The vinegar matters as acetic acid quickly releases substantial amounts of CO2 which temporarily spike pH down; so for large amounts slow dosing during the photosythetic period is best. The ethanol(vodka) takes a step over time as bacteria convert it to acetic acid ,so it does not cause a short term precipitous drop.

Personally ,I prefer bolus dosing with a relatively small amount of vinegar 60 ml for 700 gallons and 24 ml of 80 proof vokda in the am with and additional 12 ml of vodka in the pm . This has served me well for abut 8 years.

08/16/2017, 05:42 PM	#1
RobZilla04 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: St. Augustine, FL Posts: 1,857	Ideal Time of Day to Dose Carbon Got my doser going last week (finally) and just mixed up the Carbon solution (500 ml 5% Vinegar, 375 ml 80 proof vodka, 125 ml RODI). My question, is there and ideal time of day to dose it? Blue channel comes on at 0830, White at 1530. Should the solution be dosed in the a.m. or wait until the white channel kicks on later in the day. I know some responses are going to be "spread out across the day". Im starting small again (5ml) so all at once is my intention. __________________ 90g Mixed Reef

08/17/2017, 05:03 AM	#2
cincyjim Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 1,147	I never gave light schedule consideration when I dose my NoPox as I wasn't aware it should have been. So I'm anxious to see what others have to say about it. Currently, I dose mine after midnight. I dose at night because my continuous water changing starts at 12noon through 8pm and I figured this will give the dosed elements a chance to make a difference. __________________ Jim Current Tank Info: SCA 150G, 5 inch sand bed, 2 Tunze 6095s, ReefBreeders v2+ 50" with 2 all Blue Reefbrites, and Continuous Water Change System

08/17/2017, 01:01 PM	#4
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	I don't think that the time of dosing matters very much for most tanks. If my tank were running below 7.8 at night, I'd probably dose during the day. I would spread the dose across the day, on average. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

08/17/2017, 02:38 PM	#5
hkgar Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Dewitt MI Posts: 5,051	My tank drops to 7.7 at night. I dose a 50/50 mix from 10 AM to 8 PM (light period). I dose a little more than you plan at 32ml/day. __________________ Gary 180 gallon, 40 gallon sump, 3 250 W MH + 4 80W ATI T5's, MTC MVX 36 Skimmer, Apex controller Aquamaxx T-3 CaRx Current Tank Info: A 2 Barred Rabbitfish, Red Head Salon, Yellow/Purple, McMaster Fairy, Possum, 2 Leopard Wrasses, Kole, & Atlantic Blue Tangs, 2 Percula Clown, 3 PJ and 1 Banggai Cardinalfish , Swallowtail, Bellus and Coral Beauty Angels

08/18/2017, 11:28 AM	#6
RobZilla04 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: St. Augustine, FL Posts: 1,857	Thanks for the replies. As my dose volume increases Ill spread it out across the lighting period. __________________ 90g Mixed Reef

08/17/2017, 07:39 AM	#3
ReefsandGeeks Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 1,708	Of course, spread out throughout the light cycle to counter the pH dropping effects of the carbon would be ideal, but with low dosing amounts, it doesn't matter. Currently, I dose all at once with premeasured sample bottles because I dont' have a doser in my budget. With a baby on the way, it's looking like i'll be waiting a while. I dose when I get home from work in the evening because that's when is convenient for me. If I had a doser, I'd prefer to dose maybe an hour after the lights start up, as pH begins to rise for the day. If you have a pH probe and apex, you can monitor your pH trend and dose your carbon to try to keep the pH as stable as possible. I don't so keeping it simple and just dosing when the lights are on is what I do. Hasn't caused any problems for me, so I don't think it's critical either way.

08/18/2017, 11:45 AM	#7
tmz ReefKeeping Mag staff Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: West Seneca NY Posts: 27,691	The vinegar matters as acetic acid quickly releases substantial amounts of CO2 which temporarily spike pH down; so for large amounts slow dosing during the photosythetic period is best. The ethanol(vodka) takes a step over time as bacteria convert it to acetic acid ,so it does not cause a short term precipitous drop. Personally ,I prefer bolus dosing with a relatively small amount of vinegar 60 ml for 700 gallons and 24 ml of 80 proof vokda in the am with and additional 12 ml of vodka in the pm . This has served me well for abut 8 years. __________________ Tom Current Tank Info: Tank of the Month , November 2011 : 600gal integrated system: 3 display tanks (120 g, 90g, 89g),several frag/grow out tanks, macroalgae refugia, cryptic zones. 40+ fish, seahorses, sps,lps,leathers, zoanthidae and non photosynthetic corals.